| Summary: | The reaction of CF<sub>3</sub>COOAg, 3-bdppmapy (<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-bis(diphenylphosphanylmethyl)-3-aminopyridine) and HTZ (1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol) in CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>/MeOH resulted in a dinuclear Ag/P/S complex [Ag<sub>2</sub>(TZ)<sub>2</sub>(3-bdppmapy)<sub>2</sub>]·<i>x</i>Sol (<b>1</b>·<i>x</i>Sol). Crystals of <b>1</b>·<i>x</i>Sol converted to <b>1</b>·2MeOH in air at room temperature and further to <b>1</b> under vacuum upon heating. The solid-state, room-temperature photoluminescent emission of <b>1</b>·<i>x</i>Sol (510 nm) shifted to 494 nm (<b>1</b>·2MeOH) and 486 nm (<b>1</b>). Grinding solids of <b>1</b>·2MeOH in air resulted in amorphous <b>1G</b> characterized by solid-state emission at 468 nm, which converted to <b>1GR</b> with 513 nm emission upon MeOH treatment. Grinding <b>1GR</b> in air returned <b>1G,</b> and this interconversion was reproducible over five cycles. The solid-state photoluminescence of <b>1G</b> changed in response to vapors containing low–molecular weight alcohols but remained unchanged after exposure to other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or to water vapor. Test papers impregnated with <b>1G</b> could detect methanol in vapors from aqueous solutions at concentrations above 50%. Complex <b>1G</b> is, therefore, an example of a stimuli-responsive molecular sensor for the detection of alcohols.
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